Benbecula student tackles Swinney over exam results
The plight of a school student from the Western Isles, who received worse than expected grades from the SQA, was raised with Education Secretary John Swinney last week by Conservative MSP Donald Cameron.
The Highlands and Islands MSP raised the situation of Benbecula pupil Eva Peteranna in a debate in the Scottish Parliament about the fall-out from the grading fiasco.
Ms Peteranna, who despite being predicted to receive AAABC at Higher, was in fact given BBBDF, gained widespread sympathy after revealing her disappointment and frustration on social media.
Ms Peteranna, who is entering her sixth year at Sgoil Lioncleit, had written to Mr Swinney, as well as the head of education at Comhairle nan
Eilean Siar, on receiving her grades.
She told Mr Swinney that to have her grades marked down so significantly had made her completely reconsider her career path in medicine.
The coronavirus pandemic forced the cancellation of exams this year with estimated grades based on past attainment and a school’s previous exam record.
The modelling system used by the Scottish Qualifications Authority saw the grades of thousands of pupils marked down.
Pupils whose results were downgraded by the SQA are now to receive their grades based solely on teacher estimates. Ms Peteranna’s letter called for the system, which she criticised for being discriminatory, to be investigated and added: ‘The government has been pushing the ‘no wrong path slogan’ but why should pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds and deprived areas be forced into a pathway they didn’t want and worked tirelessly to avoid.’
She added: ‘Any further efforts by pupils to achieve higher grades in schools which have historically under-performed has been disregarded.
‘SQA results this year have been more about fitting the statistical trends than the individual pupil.’
Mr Cameron said: ‘Eva’s situation reminds us of the tremendous and unnecessary upset that this shambles has caused for so many of our young people.
‘While I am pleased that, at long last, Eva and many others, should receive an acceptable result, this fiasco has raised very serious doubts about the competence and judgement of ministers, particularly John Swinney.’
Mr Swinney has apologised to the 75,000 young people whose estimated mark was reduced by the SQA.
He said these were exceptional times, and in exceptional times truly difficult decisions were made. ‘In speaking directly to the young people affected by the downgrading of awards, I want to say this: I am sorry,’ he said.
‘I have listened and the message is clear. They don’t just want an apology, they want to see this fixed and that is exactly what I will now do. To resolve this issue, all downgraded awards will be withdrawn. I am directing the SQA to re-issue those awards based solely on teacher or lecturer judgement.’